Kitano is Kobe’s most atmospheric old neighbourhood, a hillside district of Western-style mansions built by foreign traders and diplomats after the port opened in 1868. Strolling its sloping lanes gives you a sense of the cosmopolitan history that still defines the city.

The Ijinkan Houses

The ijinkan are preserved foreign residences, several open to the public. The Weathercock House, with its distinctive rooster-topped tower, and the blue-toned Moegi House are the most photographed, but smaller museums recreate German, English and other European interiors of the era.

Cafes and Views

Because Kitano climbs the hillside, many of its cafes and terraces look out over the harbour and the city rooftops. It is a pleasant place to pause for coffee or one of Kobe’s famous European-style pastries, the city being known for its bakeries and sweets.

Getting There

Kitano is about a 15-minute walk uphill from Sannomiya, Kobe’s main transport hub. The climb is gentle but steady, so comfortable shoes help; combine it with the rest of central Kobe in a single day on foot.

Kitano captures Kobe’s outward-looking character. From here it is an easy walk down to the port and the shopping streets that define the modern city.

More Kobe Travel Guides

• Kobe Harborland and Meriken Park
• Mount Rokko and Kobe’s Famous Night View
• Kobe Beef and Nankinmachi: Eating in Kobe

See our Kobe Travel Guide for the full overview. Planning the whole trip? Visit The Complete Kobe Guide for every guide and hotel in one place.